WBC 2013 Is Perfect Chance for Team USA to Pique MLB Interest in Epic Clash

It took the 2004 Olympics to get big-name stars back in international basketball as representatives of the United States. After Team USA finished third and took home the Bronze medal, the prevailing embarrassment that followed has given us two (2008, 2012) of the most dominant Olympic basketball teams of the modern era.

Team USA baseball finished fourth at the World Baseball Classic in 2009. After a full four years to think about that finish, MLB stars are rising from the ashes to bring the same fire and passion that LeBron James and Kobe Bryant brought back to U.S. basketball.

This year's roster has a chance to get that excitement going.

For the first time in the three-year tournament history of the WBC, the United States will be one of the favorites. When looking at the roster (via MLB.com), there's a good reason why.

2013 U.S. World Baseball Classic Roster

Notable 2013 Absences

Player

Pos.

MLB Team

Player

Pos

Team

Mark Teixeira

1B

Yankees

Justin Verlander

SP

Tigers

Brandon Phillips

2B

Reds

Josh Hamilton

OF

Angels

Jimmy Rollins

SS

Phillies

Mike Trout

OF

Angels

David Wright

3B

Mets

Prince Fielder

1B

Tigers

Joe Mauer

C

Twins

Matt Kemp

OF

Dodgers

Ryan Braun

LF

Brewers

Clayton Kershaw

SP

Dodgers

Adam Jones

CF

Orioles

Zach Grienke

SP

Dodgers

Giancarlo Stanton

RF

Marlins

Jason Heyward

OF

Braves

Ben Zobrist

INF

Rays

B.J. Upton

OF

Braves

Willie Bloomquist

INF

D-backs

Justin Upton

OF

Braves

Shane Victorino

OF

Red Sox

Ian Kinsler

2B

Rangers

Jonathan Lucroy

C

Brewers

Dustin Pedroia

2B

Red Sox

J.P. Arencibia

C

Blue Jays

C.C. Sabathia

SP

Yankees

R.A. Dickey

SP

Blue Jays

Derek Jeter

SS

Yankees

Ryan Vogelsong

SP

Giants

Troy Tulowitzki

SS

Rockies

Derek Holland

SP

Rangers

Andrew McCutchen

OF

Pirates

Kris Medlen

SP

Braves

Jered Weaver

SP

Angels

Craig Kimbrel

RP

Braves

David Price

SP

Rays

Heath Bell

RP

D-backs

Evan Longoria

3B

Rays

Chris Perez

RP

Indians

Cliff Lee

SP

Phillies

Vinnie Pestano

RP

Indians

Cole Hamels

SP

Phillies

Luke Gregerson

RP

Padres

Buster Posey

C

Giants

Glen Perkins

RP

Twins

Bryce Harper

OF

Nationals

Steve Cishek

RP

Marlins

Stephen Strasburg

SP

Nationals

Jeremy Affeldt

RP

Giants

Matt Wieters

C

Orioles

Tim Collins

RP

Royals

Jim Johnson

RP

Orioles

Mitchell Boggs

RP

Cardinals

Joe Nathan

RP

Rangers

As you can see, manager Joe Torre will have a lot of talent to work with. His starting lineup would be a quality one in any MLB stadium, even if the starting pitching isn't as strong as the coaching staff would hope.

Playing in Pool D, USA will get a good early test against Mexico. Italy and Canada round out the pool, but Team USA is fully expected to take care of business against those squads and be in a good position for the bracket round.

Big bats like Mark Teixeira and Giancarlo Stanton will be an expected spark in the middle of the lineup, while experienced veterans Jimmy Rollins, Brandon Phillips and Shane Victorino will need to provide a veteran leadership that helps some of these players who have never tasted postseason/pressure baseball.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

All eyes will be on Giancarlo Stanton during the 2013 WBC for the U.S.

That's the kind of atmosphere that the WBC provides.

If you look at the table above, you'll see that Team USA does have a fairly stacked roster. However, the names that are on the right side of the list provide a window into what this tournament could look like if everyone were geared up to represent their country.

To be fair, spring training and injuries have prevailed over general interest in a tournament that didn't exist prior to 2005. However, Japan's title run has piqued interest all over the world, and there's a good chance the Dominican Republic squad has the same goal as the U.S. this year—prove the first two tournaments were a fluke without MLB stars.

That makes 2013 vitally important for the U.S. roster.

Where will the U.S. finish?

Outside of bracket play4th3rd2ndWBC ChampionSubmit Votevote to see results

Where will the U.S. finish?

Outside of bracket play

4.1%

4th

4.1%

3rd

14.6%

2nd

20.7%

WBC Champion

56.5%

Total votes: 363

With a deep tournament run to the finals, the United States can send a message to the stars that have chosen either not to participate or shown so little interest that they don't receive a call to join up.

That message is simple: Come play for your country, and have fun doing it.

We all know what happened after NBA stars failed to bring home the gold in 2004. With the same kind of stakes on the line for both the WBC being a talent-filled tournament on all sides and the United States sending its best competition each year, this is a crucial tournament for the current 28 Americans scheduled to put the Red, White and Blue on the line.

Granted, basketball is completely different than baseball in international play. The United States has held a considerable advantage over almost every country for the last 40 years, but baseball is a different story.

American players are some of the best in the world, but Japan, Cuba, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic all feature stacked lineups that would make any MLB manager jealous. That makes roster selection even more important in baseball than it is in basketball, because most countries are fishing with dynamite before the tournament even begins.

The stakes have never been higher for Americans and international baseball. It's time for the American stars to rise to the challenge, and hopefully inspire the rest of MLB's USA stars to come out of hiding for two weeks in March every four years.